TOB Quality of Life Task Force Actions Bring in Over $1M in Fines

Last week the Town of Brookhaven announced that the Quality of Life Task Force levied $1,091,225 in fines in 2011.

The task force was formed in the summer of 2009 to prosecute serial offenders of the town code, shutdown suburban slumlords, and eliminate residential blight in neighborhoods. This year’s total, according to the town, represents a 332 percent increase in fines levied since 2008.

“I created the Quality of Life Task Force so the Town would ramp up its efforts to improve the quality of life in our communities and prosecute serial offenders,” said Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko, in a statement. “The Quality of Life Task Force continues to aggressively enforce the Town code against the most flagrant violators and has definitely made an impact in the Town since 2009. I thank all of the Town employees who are dedicated to the Task Force and work tirelessly to ensure our communities are safe.”

Some of the bigger cases in 2011 where violations were issued occurred in the Sachem community, including one on Expressway Drive South in Holtsville where the residence was found to be covered in animal feces and a substantial amount of mold was found in the bathroom.

The home was without an active smoke detector or an active carbon monoxide detector and contained 13 cats and 1 dog, which was found to be in poor health and impounded by the SPCA for eventual turn-over to the Brookhaven Animal Shelter.

Another home on Coates Avenue in Holbrook had the task force execute a search warrant on an illegal four family dwelling. The living space in the basement, on the main floor, and on the second floor, and the detached garage were all found to be illegal living spaces.

In addition to these cases, the task force spearheaded , which kicked off in April 2011 and successfully beautified one target in Farmingville.